Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Clinicians and engineers in Oxford have begun using artificial intelligence alongside endoscopy to get more accurate readings of the pre-cancerous condition Barrett’s oesophagus and so determine patients most at risk of developing cancer.

NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

In a research paper published in the journal Gastroenterology, the researchers said the new AI-driven 3D reconstruction of Barrett’s oesophagus achieved 97.2 % accuracy in measuring the extent of this pre-cancerous condition in the oesophagus in real time, which would enable clinicians to assess the risk, the best surveillance interval and the response to treatment more quickly and confidently.

The research was supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), through its cancer and imaging themes.

Barrett’s is a pre-malignant condition that develops in the lower oesophagus in response to acid reflux. There is a less than 0.1-0.4% risk per year of developing cancer with normal Barrett’s oesophagus – or one in 200 patients. However, that risk increases with the extent of Barrett’s lining.

Read the full story on the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre website

Similar stories

300 companies created by the University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has reached the milestone of creating 300 companies based on research and ideas from students, staff and alumni.

What’s your sound barrier? New study finds nearly one in five people in the UK find everyday sounds intolerable

Researchers from King’s College London and University of Oxford have shown that 18.4 per cent of the general UK population report that certain sounds, such as loud chewing, and repetitive sniffing, cause a significant problem in their lives. The condition is known as misophonia.

Misophonia: nearly one in five UK adults have the condition causing extreme reactions to certain sounds

Many of us have sounds that we find to be annoying. But for some people, certain sounds actually trigger extreme reactions.

Any type of hormonal contraceptive may increase risk of breast cancer

An analysis of data by researchers at the Nuffield Department of Population Health’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit has shown that use of progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives is associated with a 20-30% higher risk of breast cancer. The results are published in PLOS Medicine.

Viewing self-harm images on the internet and in social media usually causes harm, according to new review

Clinical researchers have reviewed the international research evidence regarding the impact of viewing images of self-harm on the internet and in social media.